Two Hearts Drawing Closer

"This is..."

Kakuzu hesitated. Just from its appearance, he could tell how dangerous and terrifying this thing was.

"This is Earth Grudge Fear, spoils obtained after we wiped out a small ninja clan. Since it had considerable research value, I kept it here for dedicated study. I hope to give this thing to you, Kakuzu."

An indescribable look flashed through Yayoi's eyes as he spoke meaningfully.

Earth Grudge Fear—this was something that had appeared in the original work, or rather, a forbidden technique.

Kakuzu had relied on this thing to remain active from the Warring States Era until decades later, still retaining the appearance of a man in his prime without aging.

If he had not died at the hands of Konoha ninja, Kakuzu might have lived for a very long time.

After all, Earth Grudge Fear could capture other people's hearts and use them as life energy, supplying the user with vigorous vitality and achieving an effect similar to immortality.

Moreover, it could seize hearts and obtain other people's Ninjutsu.

It was an exceedingly mysterious and terrifying forbidden technique.

Thus, Yayoi continued explaining some of Earth Grudge Fear's abilities and characteristics to Kakuzu.

After hearing it all, Kakuzu found it unbelievable.

It was not that he did not want to use it. He simply felt that Yayoi was actually willing to let him use something this powerful.

Wasn't that too wasteful?

According to Yayoi, if he mastered this forbidden technique, his strength would immediately increase severalfold. And its ageless, deathless traits... that power was simply too tempting.

As for the risks of a forbidden technique... if there were no risks, could it still be called a forbidden technique?

Besides, he trusted Yayoi's judgment. Since Yayoi said he could master this technique, then he certainly possessed that talent.

When it came to trusting Yayoi, he trusted him even more than he trusted himself.

"I understand, Lord Yayoi. Please let me... no, please, I must be allowed to try this technique."

Kakuzu was quite bold. He did not reject becoming a test subject for a forbidden technique.

As a ninja who had followed Yayoi through chaotic times to establish a nation, he understood very well how important strength was.

Many times, he had blamed himself for being too weak to help Yayoi more.

Not to mention that the effects brought by this forbidden technique were so powerful and alluring.

"Then let's begin. There's a sealed chamber beside us. Go fuse with it there."

Yayoi pressed a switch, and a door suddenly opened in the nearby wall, revealing a sealed quiet room.

Yayoi then opened the glass container and released the pitch-black, tentacled heart within.

Kakuzu stepped forward and grabbed one of its tentacles.

Like venomous snakes, the remaining tentacles swiftly crawled over Kakuzu's body and began to coil around him.

A chill seeped through Kakuzu's entire body, making him frown.

"Then I'll go in first, Lord Yayoi."

Holding the heart's tentacles, Kakuzu entered the sealed chamber and shut the stone door. No sound from within could pass through it.

Yayoi did not disturb him. He merely stood where he was, calmly waiting for the result.

Yayoi was highly confident that Kakuzu would completely fuse with Earth Grudge Fear.

First, because Kakuzu in the original work had endured the fusion of this forbidden technique and mastered it.

Second, Earth Grudge Fear had undergone special activation through his chakra treatment. While increasing its power and vitality, it had also greatly reduced the life-threatening risks brought by the forbidden technique.

Even if it failed, Kakuzu's life would not be in danger.

One hour... two hours... three hours... four hours...

Only after six hours had passed did the stone door slowly open.

Kakuzu emerged from the room, his ninja attire tattered.

His already dark green eyes seemed even deeper now.

The aura around him also gave Yayoi a sense of danger. He no longer seemed as harmless as before.

Several swaying black tentacles protruded from his ears. Like black blood vessels, their surfaces glimmered with a dull sheen.

Then, as if receiving an order, the blood vessel-like tentacles withdrew into Kakuzu's ears and vanished.

Kakuzu did not appear to have suffered any harm. His body even looked sturdier, without the stitched seams from the original work.

Yayoi suspected that the original Kakuzu had deliberately modified his body into that stitched state to make Earth Grudge Fear's tentacles more convenient for attacking and diversify his combat methods.

"How does it feel?"

Yayoi asked Kakuzu about his condition.

"Very good. It feels like I've entered a whole new realm... ah, and there's this too."

Kakuzu took out a kunai and swiftly slashed open his arm.

No blood flowed out. Instead, black, blood vessel-like tentacles sprang from the wound and danced wildly.

Then the black vessels drew back, and the wound healed on its own.

Seeing this, Yayoi smiled in satisfaction.

"Just as expected. After enhancing its activity with my chakra, this forbidden technique has gained the ability to let its user heal themselves."

Yayoi was not surprised by this result.

After being treated with his chakra, such a development was only natural.

Earth Grudge Fear was a living forbidden technique.

After its vitality and activity had been enhanced, gaining a new ability akin to self-healing was a perfectly normal outcome.

And Earth Grudge Fear's changes did not stop there.

In the original work, whenever Kakuzu wanted to use Ninjutsu taken from someone else, he needed to release the corresponding clone first.

Now, even without releasing a clone, Kakuzu himself could freely use the Ninjutsu he had seized. It was an improvement.

"So that's why it feels so similar to Lord Yayoi's self-healing ability. I see. This technique is incredibly valuable. If I fought that Yuroketsu fellow now, I wouldn't lose."

Kakuzu was brimming with confidence and extremely satisfied with his current state.

A ceaseless stream of vitality and chakra surged through his body, continuously strengthening his physique.

He had previously been deeply wary of Aburame Yuroketsu's strength, but he no longer thought that way.

Yayoi smiled.

He knew Kakuzu had been under a great deal of pressure lately.

After all, the Land of Night had gained fresh strength in the form of the Aburame Clan. As one of the old guard who had followed him from the start, Kakuzu's strength was gradually falling behind.

That anxiety had now vanished from Kakuzu's eyes, replaced by unwavering confidence.

And this was only the enhancement in his base state. Earth Grudge Fear could still acquire four more hearts, further increasing its power.

A complete Kakuzu would have no trouble defeating Yuroketsu, the head of the Aburame Clan.

However, there was still quite a considerable gap between him and Irori.

Even so, Kakuzu, whose strength had greatly increased, was now one of the rare top-tier ninja in the Ninja World.

My strength is basically unlikely to undergo a qualitative leap in the short term. That's fine too. With Kakuzu gaining Earth Grudge Fear, the burden on me can be lightened considerably.

Yayoi thought happily.

Besides improving himself, raising the strength of his subordinates as much as possible was also a way of indirectly strengthening the Land of Night's military power.

Without capable subordinates, the exhaustion of having a nation's burdens pressed onto one person was easy to imagine.

Yayoi did not consider himself the sort of person who insisted on suffering for no reason.

Late December.

Land of Night, Inner Court of the General's Residence.

"Lady Kicho, you have been far too improper lately! If you keep sinking like this, the General will grow tired of you!"

Perhaps they could no longer bear it. As attendants, Hyuga Aoi and Hyuga Rinko finally lost their tempers, sternly reprimanding Lady Kicho and loudly warning her of the painful consequences of continuing to waste away—being disliked by the General, or even abandoned.

"Eh? But my husband dotes on me every night. He doesn't care about such little things at all."

Facing the reproaches of her two attendants, Kicho merely smiled faintly and waved them off carelessly, continuing to toy with the various novelties that subordinates had sent to curry favor with her.

Like a child, she played with things she had never seen in the Hyuga Clan.

Some were baby supplies meant to bless her with a child soon.

Some were high-end cosmetics made from precious medicinal herbs, meant to keep her young and beautiful.

There were also assorted delicacies and desserts from various countries, splendid and gorgeous clothing, exquisite handicrafts and mechanical items...

In short, whether she could think of them or not, so long as she gave the slightest hint, someone would naturally provide her with attentive service.

And the feeling of being surrounded and revered by others was also a pleasure she could never experience within the Hyuga Clan.

Aoi and Rinko were too angry to speak, their faces flushed red.

And she had the nerve to say that.

Every night, she teased the General until late at night, still "singing." Shouldn't she consider how the two of them sleeping in the side room felt?

Was that sort of thing really so addictive?

Incidentally, although Yayoi and Kicho's master bedroom was soundproofed from the outside, it was actually connected to the side room.

The connecting section was also soundproofed, but not particularly well.

Thus, if the two branch family girls resting in the side room listened carefully, they could vaguely hear some sounds from the master bedroom.

Besides, Kicho "sang" so loudly every night that it was hard not to hear.

"Even so, Lady Kicho, you should still be more frugal with food and clothing. Ninja must endure hardship..."

Aoi and Rinko began earnestly lecturing Kicho, telling her to save money and not be so extravagant.

And she definitely should not buy heaps of things on a whim that she might use once and never touch again.

"It's fine. My husband said these little expenses barely cost anything. Besides, if I don't use them, I can give them to the wives and daughters of subordinate civil officials."

Kicho showed no remorse in the face of her two attendants' chattering lectures.

"..."

Aoi and Rinko were rendered speechless.

That was indeed true. It was not their first time reporting Kicho's spending habits to Yayoi and asking him to manage them.

Yet every time, Yayoi said he understood, but then Kicho began acting coquettishly, and the matter was forgotten.

Or perhaps he had never intended to lecture her in the first place.

Who knew what sort of private amusement the married couple was enjoying?

After all, ever since their marriage, every night had been stormy without exception. The powerful physiques of ninja were not meant specifically for this sort of thing.

The two girls immediately trembled with anger.

Kicho was even worse. She had been married here for three months.

Every day, she ate the best food and used the finest things, while her nightlife was unbelievably intense.

Otherwise, she would act cute and cling to the General, sometimes even getting a little handsy in broad daylight.

Once, on the corridor of the courtyard, they had vaguely seen Kicho pressed face-first against a pillar, "singing" softly.

Her life resembled that of a decadent noble girl.

As for ninja training, she had not done it even once.

Even they, her attendants, could no longer stand such rotten luxury.

As for reporting this to the Hyuga Clan's main family, that was impossible.

If the main family intervened, it would be interfering in the Land of Night's politics. It would no longer be an internal matter of the General's household and could trigger an international dispute.

"Lady Kicho, we are not criticizing you. We simply hope you can straighten out your attitude a little. Since marrying here, you haven't trained for even one day. Your body is practically rusting, isn't it? The most important spirit of the Hyuga Clan is being able to endure hardship..."

As they spoke, Aoi and Rinko once again embarked on a relentless round of lecturing, determined to steer Kicho back onto the proper path.

Ninja were supposed to use hardship to constantly temper themselves and improve who they were.

Pleasure was a ninja's greatest enemy.

"I know, I know. I'll pay a little more attention from now on."

Kicho waved her hand somewhat impatiently, signaling for them to stop lecturing her.

But how much she had actually taken in was something only she knew.

After all, before marrying here, she had already suffered enough in the Hyuga Clan. Now that she was the General's wife, she still had to endure hardship... then wouldn't becoming the General's wife have been for nothing?

Aoi and Rinko had no choice but to stop their lecture, hoping Kicho would genuinely improve in the future.

In the softly lit bedroom.

"Aoi and Rinko went to complain about you to me again."

After returning, Yayoi placed his coat on the screen's clothes rack, rubbed Kicho's little head as she affectionately leaned close, and smiled helplessly as he watched her throw herself into his arms like a small animal.

"Those two really do love nitpicking. Why didn't I notice that when we were back in the clan?"

Kicho was also quite troubled by the earnest lectures from her two attendants.

Especially lectures given "for your own good." They made it impossible for her to scold or punish them, leaving her with no choice but to listen obediently.

Although she had the ability to use the Caged Bird and silence them with the curse mark... she would never do such a thing.

Aoi and Rinko were doing this for her sake. Their attempts to stop her were proof of their loyalty. If they harbored other ill intentions, then she would teach them a lesson.

"Isn't it because you're too carefree, Kicho?"

"Does my husband dislike me too?"

Hearing the sudden whimpering beside his ear, Yayoi could not help laughing.

His wife's skill at feigning helplessness was truly innate.

"I was only making a comment. Your spending hasn't reached a level serious enough to concern me."

Indeed, although Kicho had been spending lavishly lately, far beyond what she had spent in the past,

in truth, even if her spending rose another level, she would not be able to empty his private treasury in a hundred years.

Besides, the Land of Night's economic development was steady and healthy. Kicho's expenses could not begin to keep up with the income flowing into his private treasury.

And Kicho's spending was not entirely pointless. At the very least, she gave some of the things she bought to the wives and daughters of civil officials.

For someone in power, this was itself a method of affirmation and winning people over, allowing those civil officials to feel at ease.

Whether the gifts were valuable was unimportant. Who had bestowed them was what truly mattered.

As the Land of Night was governed primarily through military power, Yayoi himself was closely tied to the army, so his interests aligned with those of the ninja and samurai.

For the civil officials managing the nation's internal affairs, it was a form of torment.

They respected Yayoi, but they also feared him.

So if someone could take their place and put these civil officials at ease, that would be a good thing as well.

And for this task, no one was more suitable than Kicho.

In the eyes of outsiders, as the general's wife, every action Kicho took represented the general's own will.

Kicho rewarding the female relatives of civil officials and putting the officials at ease meant that the general also valued them and recognized the collective contributions of the civil officials.

This young wife was so shrewd that she saw through the Land of Night's hidden dangers at a glance and immediately came up with her own solution.

"As long as my husband does not blame me, that is enough. Now then, my husband, it is time to rest. Tonight, I want to try being on top."

Kicho took Yayoi's arm and led him toward the bedding, her body growing passionate.

Her body had developed more voluptuously than that of many adult women; the phrase "slender branches bearing abundant fruit" suited her perfectly.

A pink, ambiguous atmosphere filled the spacious bedroom.

"By the way, did you put that blade away?"

Yayoi looked around but did not see the special chakra blade Kicho had carried with her when she married into the household.

"It is inconvenient to keep carrying that thing around, isn't it?"

"But it can be used for self-defense."

Yayoi still remembered the sight of Kicho wearing her wedding dress for the first time, with a blade in her hand.

"Honestly, my husband, do you only find it interesting if you tease me like this?"

Kicho's cheeks flushed faintly, and her eyes turned reproachful.

"It is interesting. The way Kicho looked that night was very... conquering."

"Then... what about now?"

"I should be asking you that. Has your heart finally calmed down, Kicho? You know, your smiles have become much more genuine lately."

Yayoi pinched Kicho's chin and gently lifted it.

His reflection filled the girl's pure white eyes.

"Mmm... then make me submit even further, my husband."

Kicho blushed shyly and slowly closed her eyes.

Perhaps her heart had already completely taken this person's shape.

No, she had willingly wanted to take this person's shape.

Compared to a stifling place like the Hyuga Clan, this was her true sanctuary.

Tonight was destined to be sleepless, with songs of pleasure lasting until dawn.